The emotion and doubts of Thierry Duvaldestin
This is the third title in the Prix d’Amérique for Thierry Duvaldestin, after those, in 2011 and 2012, signed with Ready Cash (Indy de Vive). The professional reacts with emotion to his return to the American rankings, with also the presence of his son Clément in the driver position: “At the time of Ready Cash, Clément and Théo must have been 10 and 12 years old. Idao de Tillard is a horse that I bought, broken in. We all did with Clément, it’s crazy. We always valued him even if we messed up once or twice and, there, we didn’t lighten up at all . We even weighed it down a little. At 230 grams, we were heavier than in the Critérium. I was too afraid that he would fall light. The horse is strong. I realize that, but perhaps I will achieve more later. is huge. This horse is an enigma. We had doubts before the race because we had one or two things that bothered us in the preparation. We weren’t calm.” Family secrets in the Prix d’Amérique
Two years after the coronation of Nicolas Bazire with Davidson du Pont (Pacha du Pont), under the tutelary advice of his father Jean-Michel, it is another racing family which leaves its mark on the 2024 edition. The Duvaldestin father and son also personalized the successful transmission.
Susanne Ohme, Idao de Tillard is his best friend
Lad of Idao de Tillard, Susanne Ohme, 30 years old, has formed a special, almost fusional relationship with Idao de Tillard. She gives us the context: “I started working for Thierry Duvaldestin in November 2021. He entrusted me with Idao de Tillard quite quickly after my arrival so I have been by his side for all his races for two years. For me , Idao is a friend, my best friend. When I started here I didn’t understand French at all so Idao was the only being with whom I could communicate. I spoke with him all day long!” This Sunday, she experienced great emotions: “It was great. We had so much pressure. There is a lot of stress when you are at the side of the track. These last few weeks have not been perfect for Idao . We were worried but you have to do your best and believe in your horse.”
A relief for Cyril Sevestre
Co-owner of the crack, Cyril SEVESTRE has had his colors since 2012. He never stops measuring the luck he has and shares with us a victory in the form of relief: “I no longer know where I am, in what space, but I’m good. I’ve recovered a little there but I don’t realize it yet. We won the American prize! I’m happy for my horse because he deserves it, we knew he had the possibilities but we had to conclude. Now it’s done. The rest of his career is important but Idao de Tillard had to win a Prix d’Amérique. That was close to my heart. He proved on the track that he is the best. I reminds me of the day of the sale. I was not present but I was on the phone with Thierry Duvaldestin.
It’s a dream to own a walker but without thinking of getting there one day. Luck favors the bold and I was extremely lucky. I hope other people will take the plunge. Basically, I am a racer, in love with trotters. I came to racing through the game and, above all, through the passion for trotting. We are aware that not everyone experiences this in their lives. We have that. Others have the Olympic Games or the World Cup.”
The dream tribute for the “Tillard”
The “Tillards” are her. Françoise Chaunion experienced the moment she had dreamed of for a long time: “Last year, I experienced the race more than today (read Sunday). It was the joy of racing the Prix d’Amérique even if the disqualification quickly intervened. This year, it was more tense. I wanted this victory so much! It’s almost unimaginable even if, somewhere, I was waiting for it deep down. It’s a very big reward for years and years of work. It’s obviously a great tribute to my parents who started breeding just fifty years ago. I’m delighted. It’s done! It was very important to me that “a “Tillard” marks history. This victory is more than a milestone but it must continue. It is not the end at all, on the contrary it is a new impetus and this reward will give me carry far I hope even if going higher will be difficult.”
An alternating pedigree
Idao de Tillard concentrates, in his close pedigree, the best of French and American blood, with the characteristics specific to each of these. Sévérino 1’11”, his father, is a classic horse, in the full sense of the term, winner of Critérium, son of an eclectic champion, Gobernador 1’11”, second in a Prix de Cornulier (Group 1 ), then winner of the Prix de France (Group 1) and Paris (Group 1), from the male line of a great standardbred stallion, in this case Royal Prestige 1’11” (Speedy Crown). First de Retz 1’11” (Podosis), his damsire, twice won the Prix de Cornulier (Group 1) and is also on the prize list of the Prix de Normandie (Group 1), while having shown excellent means to the hitch. The previous damsire is the American Workaholic 1’11” (Speedy Crown) and, a generation earlier, we find the excellent ridden horse Valmont 1’18” m. (Fandango). The flagship inbreedings of the pedigree: Podosis (4×3) and Speedy Crown (5×4).
Analysis of placements
■ David Thomain (2nd with Hokkaïdo Jiel): “We traveled well and he slalomed well but we found the opening very late. What a finish he had. The best one won but I’m really happy.”
→ Jean-Luc Dersoir (trainer): “The horse was good. Many people had perhaps forgotten his victory in the Prix René Ballière and the fact that he holds the track record. He had not done a terrible preparation but there remains Hokkaïdo Jiel. For me it is a culmination of a career with Mr. Luck’s stable.”
→ Eric Frémiot, manager of Ecurie Jean Luck: “This second place in a Prix d’Amérique is an achievement for the whole team. For the breeding because it is a horse raised at home, for my grand- father who has invested in horses for over forty years, for Jean-Luc Dersoir who has been with us for so many years and for all our teams who work on a daily basis. I can’t find the words. We always dream of participating and “to be at the finish of this race. It’s exceptional.”
■ Björn Goop (3rd with Joviality): “She’s a hell of a mare. She ran very well. She lost second place by so little. We’re delighted, we’re happy.”
■ Romain Derieux (4th with Go On Boy): “It was a nightmare the whole race. Horses who had no chance gave in 1,500 meters from the finish and bogged down the race. It’s really sickening. He’s a crack, he had an exceptional finish line as he knows how to do. It’s a real shame because he could have done very, very well (Editor’s note: understand winning).”
■ Mathieu Mottier (5th with Italiano Véro): “Last year, he was third. The last time, when I was discovering him, he made a mistake while going down. Today, I was more careful and he was perfect in gait with the unshoeing. He had perhaps also ridden in his last race. I have no regrets.”